Armenia: System Of A Down remembers all victims of the Genocides, including gays, in a live concert in Yerevan

By making the parallels between the Armenian Genocide and the Holocaust, the animated on-screen introduction to the part 2 of the SOAD’s concert declared [see from 49:25 - captions below in Armenian, in the video - with English voice-over]:

[“Inspired by the example of openly committing mass murder with impunity [the Armenian Genocide], he [Hitler] became an architect of the new Genocide - the Holocaust, Nazi Germany’s evil campaign to rid Europe off Jews, Poles, gypsies, gays, the disabled and all those who did not fit in Hitler’s twisted vision of “pure race”.]

They then went on with more current examples of the “terror that persists”. “We can no longer seat back and watch those dreadful acts committed around the globe. Time to wake up the souls.”

Hear this, Armenian and worldwide fans of the System of the Down. Embrace the diversity. Hear this, Armenian politicians and other world leaders. Your oppressive politics will be eventually rocked apart.

Says Serj Tankian live in Yerevan: “There is still fucking work to do [in Armenia]. It’s a responsibility of the government to bring in the principles of the egalitarian civic society, getting rid of institutional injustice and stopping depopulation that is occurring.”

This was in line with Serj Tankian’s previously expressed support for environmental issues and LGBT human rights in Armenia: Prominent Armenians (including Serj Tankian) issue statement in support of LGBT human rights

As victims of the Genocide, Armenia and Armenians should lead by example, by embracing diversity.

I want to hope that particularly younger generation who got inspired over the last few weeks with Kanye West’s awesomely crazy impromptu gig in Yerevan, Kim Kardashian’s ability to shake off the routine and bring world media’s attention to the country, SOAD’s epic concert, and the presence of so many diverse awesome people both in Armenia and in Diaspora, will challenge the status quo by making Armenia a country of our dreams, where everyone, regardless of gender, race, ethnicity, sexual orientation, disability will be welcomed and treated equally, with respect. By setting ourselves free of prejudices, we will provide the best evidence of failure of the perpetrators of the Armenian Genocide.

And as yet another evidence of such failure is the joint commemorations by Turks and Armenians in Istanbul of the centenary of the Genocide, despite Turkish government’s continuous denial and oppressions. Also, this joint statement by Armenian and Turkish LGBT groups marking the anniversary and pledging to fight together for human rights. And this very awesome personal story by gay Armenian Haig Chahinian, published on The Washington Post on the April 24th:

The #ArmenianGenocide gives way to gay pride. The story of my life http://t.co/efEj2IzX0k
— Haig Chahinian (@chahinian) April 24, 2015

"I didn’t have to procreate to carry on my Armenian-American family legacy. As a gay man, I couldn't marry the Armenian woman my father hoped I would. But I can still honor our traditions."

It’s very telling that The Guardian’s great coverage of the Armenian Genocide topic this year included the interactive format for the descendants’ family stories, a format used for the similar accounts of racial profiling in the US and experiences of LGBT communities around the word, as stated by The Guardian’s Maeve Shearlaw, in an interview with Armenian Mediamax agency.

"This isn't a rock’n’roll concert. To our murderers, this is revenge" - said System of a Down's Daron Malakian, during live concert in Yerevan.

Here is for the next 100 years.

Serj Tankian and... my Gay Armenia blog

Thank you so much to iddewes!! I am very touched, indeed... You know, I am a big fan of Serj, and happy to hear that he seems nice in real life too… :)

Via iddewes (+ videos):

...I did manage to get in to see Screamers at the Amnesty International centre. I was a bit worried because I'd heard that Serj Tankian would be there and I thought there would be loads and loads of SOAD fans there, and they always overbook there.

Anyway, it actually wasn't too bad. I guess the word didn't get out that much among the SOAD fans, because there were more people there who actually either looked Armenian or older and not necessarily metal fans than people who looked like they were primarily SOAD fans. Did talk to a couple of nice young boys who were SOAD fans though - tried to get them to come along to the Armenian Genocide march on Saturday too...;)

And yeah spoke to a young British Armenian guy too. He said he'd seen the film and that it was more about SOAD than the actual Genocide, recommended a documentary called The Betrayed - if you're reading this Artmika and I bet you are, do you know it? [Unzipped: Gay Armenia - I have not seen that BBC documentary The Betrayed, did few searches, sounds interesting.]

I arrived really early and had to stand outside for a while...there actually wasn't a queue, either. But I saw Serj arrive...and was too shy to say a thing to him!

Well the film was very good, anyway, yes it was quite a bit about SOAD but also about the genocide, I thought there was enough about the genocide as well, and then there was the Q and A with Serj, the filmmaker Carla Garapedian and two people from Amnesty; quite interesting to listen to them too of course. And then I finally did get to meet Serj at the end. I'd been texting Artmika that he was there but I'd been too shy to speak to him or take a photo - Artmika texted back 'forget about shyness, you have to get a photo!!' - ok so in the end my excuse for going up to him was not to say I admired him or anything like that but to tell him about Artmika's Gay Armenia blog! So yeah Artmika he knows about it now! He was very nice and did actually seem quite interested to hear about it and asked if Artmika lived in Armenia, etc.

So that was good too...I'd have been disappointed if he'd turned out to be an arrogant jerk, but he really wasn't like that at all. :)

*photo - via Independentmusic

Turkish politician ‘nervous’ of possible SOAD performance for Armenia in Eurovision 2009

Even though there has been no formal announcement, other than rumours, that Serj Tankian or SOAD may represent Armenia in Eurovision 2009, the only thought of it makes some Turkish politicians 'nervous'. Rumours re SOAD/Serj which were circulating few months ago revived again very recently suggesting that another potential contender singer Arame is out now, and the likelihood of SOAD or Serj Tankian to represent Armenia in Eurovision 2009 is very real. But then again, I must repeat that these are still rumours.

Back to the news reports. Azeri APA news agency quoting Turkish sources reports that opposition MP from the Republican People’s Party (CHP) Akif Ekici urged Turkish PM to initiate actions to prevent SOAD’s performance of Armenian Genocide related or mentioning song (directly or indirectly).

The lawmaker asked the Prime Minister what measures would be taken for prevention of this group to join the Eurovision contest with this song. “Were Armenia and European Broadcasting Union addressed on this issue? What will happen if this group wins the contest with its song on so-called “genocide”? Would the world recognize “genocide” in this case, it wouldn’t?”

According to the Eurovision rules, explicit political songs are prohibited in the contest. However, there are always ways to get the message through via more indirect references, and there were number of examples of it in past.

"The biggest SOAD fan" tattooed Serj Tankian's entire poem on her body

She is the winner of the "biggest SOAD fan" contest, as reported by the SOAD blog: "In addition to the pogo mushroom tattoo on her wrist and the SOAD posters all over her room, she has the ENTIRE Serj Tankian poem "Misunderstood Rose" tattooed on the side of her body!"

Eurovision 2009: Arame for Armenia?

I hope these rumours are wrong. I do not have anything against Arame per se, but he is typical, unremarkable pop singer. Well, yes, Eurovision is pop, and not the best quality music, but there should be something more to get you win it. I am afraid, Arame is not a Eurovision winner, unless something magical happens... I wish previous rumours which I wrote about - Will SOAD or Serj Tankian represent Armenia at the Eurovision song contest 2009 in Moscow? - are true, although these talks died out subsequently. Serj Tankian would have been a sensational representation for Armenia and true potential winner. Oh, well, it’s Eurovision, and Armenia will not rock it in 2009. Or may be I am wrong.

*For info - Arame was named as “the best male singer of the year” at the Armenian National Music Awards 2007 which was held in February 2008. During the same ceremony, Sirusho won the title of “the best female singer”, and subsequently represented Armenia in Eurovision 2008 finishing 4th.

**photo - by Photolur, via A1+

Will SOAD or Serj Tankian represent Armenia at the Eurovision Song Contest 2009 in Moscow?

I've heard such rumours - that System Of A Down (SOAD) rock band (the band is on hiatus now) may at some point represent Armenia at the Eurovision Song Contest - approximately a year ago. Speculations on such possibility for the year 2009 in Moscow are currently number one Eurovision related rumours spread over the Internet. Band's Wikipedia page has already been updated to reflect the news citing Oikotimes, Eurovision related popular website:

System of a Down is very politically active and are noted for the liberal political views expressed in their songs, tackling myriad subjects including the War on Drugs, religion, drug use, and especially censorship. They have actively campaigned to get Turkey to recognize the Armenian Genocide and the subject is often-tackled in their songs. System of a Down is a part of the Axis of Justice, a non-profit organization formed by band member Serj Tankian (along with Tom Morello from Rage Against the Machine), dedicated to bringing together musicians, music fans, and grassroots political organizations to fight for social justice. [...]

System of a Down has shown a keen interest in representing Armenia at the Eurovision Song Contest 2009 to be held in Russia next year. However, the soloist of the band, Serj Tankian, has openly stated in a recent visit in Finland that this will be under one condition: if they will be able to use Eurovision as a way to make the much-debated Armenian Genocide issue known. "Esc would be an excellent way to make this theme known. We must seriously think of this." (reference)

However, it must be said that European Broadcasting Union's Eurovision related rules do not allow overtly political songs, which of course did not prevent their appearance in past, under various 'covers'. Serj Tankian understands this perfectly, and as Finnish blogger Ilkar reports on his Eurovision related Life After Helsinki 2007 blog, he stated over the weekend in Finland that "a love song would probably do better than political song" for the cause.

Serj Tankian, the solist of System of a down, declared his interest for represanting his native Armenia in the Eurovision when visiting Finland this weekend. The band's on break and Serj tours the world as a solist from New Zealand where he resides these days. System of a down has been active in a group that is trying to make Turkey confess the 1915 genocide where even up to one million people lost their lives. "The idea is very, very interesting. It would be a very good forum to talk about this. A love song would probably do better than political song however" he stated.

The question is still open. I suppose one of the reasons that Serj Tankian openly suggested such possibility was to check the reactions of all 'stakeholders' involved, including fans, Eurovision organisers and Armenia's Public TV. It is still hard to believe that rock band with serious reputation and cult following might consider performing at the Eurovision Song Contest which many consider as cheesy pop fest. However, we had examples in past, and if SOAD's or Serj Tankian's representation for Armenia become true, it will be the most talked about topic in Internet forums for sure. It will be Armenia's THE CHANCE to get the Eurovision trophy in Moscow and host it in 2010.

Will Armenia rock the Eurovision 2009 in Moscow? I hope so, even if without SOAD, but even more with...